GUIDES · August 14, 2026 · 7 min read
On this page
Ten minutes in Settings locks down most of your Instagram exposure. The essentials: make your account private, control who can DM and tag you, hide your activity status, review connected apps, and switch on two-factor authentication. Here's the full run-through.
Instagram's defaults favour visibility, not privacy. This checklist walks the settings that genuinely matter in 2026.
1. Account privacy
Settings → Account privacy → Private account. The single biggest switch: it hides your posts, stories, reels and highlights from everyone but approved followers. On public, remember anyone can see and save your content. Choose deliberately.
2. Messages and tags
- Messages: limit who can DM you and send message requests.
- Tags & mentions: set to "people you follow" or manual approval so strangers can't tag you.
- Comments: filter or restrict who can comment.
3. Activity status
Switch off Show activity status so people can't see when you're online or last active. It also stops you seeing theirs — a fair trade for privacy.
4. Story controls
Hide stories from specific people, set up Close Friends for private sharing, and turn off resharing of your stories if you don't want them passed around.
5. Security
- Two-factor authentication — switch it on. The most important security step.
- Connected apps: review and revoke third-party access you no longer use.
- Password: unique and strong. Never type it into third-party "viewer" tools.
6. Audit what's public
See yourself as a stranger does: open your handle in a profile viewer while logged out to confirm exactly what's exposed, then adjust. Do this after any settings change to check it worked.
Check your public footprint
See what strangers see with the Stelvo profile viewer.
Likes are the setting people most often misread as private — here is who can actually see what you like on Instagram.
FAQ
What's the most important Instagram privacy setting?
Making your account private — it hides content from non-followers.
Should I turn off activity status?
Yes, if you don't want others seeing when you're online.
How do I stop strangers tagging me?
Set tags and mentions to people you follow or manual approval.
Is two-factor authentication worth it?
Yes — it's the single best protection against account takeover.
How do I check what's public on my account?
View it logged out or through a profile viewer.
the Stelvo Team
The people behind Stelvo — a privacy-first team writing honest guides on anonymous Instagram viewing, downloads, and staying invisible online.